“The space shuttle changed the way we view the world, the way we view the universe,” Ferguson told NASA mission controllers. “America’s not going to stop exploring. Thanks for protecting us and bringing this program to a fitting end.”

To honor this momentous occasion, AZNow.Biz proudly presents this three-part infographic outlining the public’s opinion on America’s continued leadership in space exploration, as well as 10 NASA inventions you might use everyday and a brief visual history of the shuttle program itself: